"In an unjust system, kindness is not enough."-the father of Sister Helen Prejean

to be kindthe counselor told methere was nothing wrong with meI was not at all like my mother

sent me home with exercises to relax meto talk me through the times my mind burned up the worldthe times the world opened to drop me into void

to be kindthe staff of sheltersserved food and brought pillows and poured coffeeand piled helplessness upon helplessnessand smiled as women smile for empty bodies

to be kindthe neighbors want the new shelterto be someplace more appropriatesomeplace where they are alreadymore people of that kind

to be kindthe businessmen would like to studythe need and design and the placementof hygiene centers in the business corea little longer, long enough, perhaps,that all the unpleasant people will go away

to be kindwe will no longer sellforty-ounce bottles of beerin the districts where the worn men sleepbecause it is not good for themtheir drunken ravings frighten usand maybe, maybe they will go away

to be kindwe will look away from our friend when she cries

to be kindwe will look away from the fear in the small gray womanat the desk next doorwe will look away from her disappearance

to be kindwe will look away from the child screaming at his fatherwe will look away from the smack of flesh on bone